This plaque is found on the wall of theFeoffee Cottages next to the Post Office

“The Bell is a common name for inns situated neara church…It became a prominent coaching inn andstaging point for the changing of horses, Toddingtonbeing on the main London to Bedford coachingroute” – A stroll through old Toddington (see alsophoto 70 in Old Toddington by R Hart)

War memorial (see also photos in RHart’s books)

The Pond “can be seen on the 1851map as the‘Towne Water’. It used to be very much larger than itis today, extending up to the edge of the road” -A stroll through old Toddington (see also photos in RHart’s books)

Extracts used with kind permission of the authors Photographs © Central Bedfordshire Libraries

Available to borrow from Toddington Library

A stroll through old Toddington by J Viner 1997

Old Toddington by R Hart 1984

Old Toddington Revisited by R Hart 1992

Further information ~ Central Bedfordshire’s Virtual Library www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/libraries

Toddington Historical Society www.toddingtonhistorical.co.uk Central Bedfordshire Council www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Take a stroll throughToddington’s history

The Library was once a bakery shop (see photo 88in Old Toddington by Richard Hart). It opened as alibrary in 1972.

The Pump “was presented to the village in 1855 bythe then Lord of the Manor, Mr W Dodge Cooper.When mains water was made available some of theolder generation were reluctant to change over to the‘piped stuff’ – Old Toddington by R Hart. It is now alisted item. (see also photos in Toddington revisitedby R Hart)

Conger House “is one of the oldest houses nowstanding in Toddington. It is shown on the 1581 mapof ‘Tuddington’, held in the BritishMuseum, and is mentioned in a deed of 1621 when itsold for £55” – A stroll through old Toddington byJohn Viner

Conger Hill is found along a footpath from CongerLane and “is the motte (mound) of a manor houseprobably dating from the 12th or 13th Century” – Astroll through old Toddington (see also photos in RHart’s books)

“The Town Hall together with the whole green wasacquired by the Parish Council in 1938… The TownHall has since been sold and is now privately owned”– A stroll through old Toddington (see also photos inR Hart’s books)

Old Filling Station Dental Surgery was the mainvillage blacksmith for many years. In the 1960s itbecame the Old Forge Garage (see also photos in RHart’s books)

St George of England Church “was consecrated onSt George’s day in 1222, the year in which the festi-val of St George was declared a public holiday” - Astroll through old Toddington

The Griffin Pub “takes its name from one of the ar-morial bearings of the Earls of Strafford, former hold-ers of the Manor” – A stroll through old Toddington(see also photos in R Hart’s books)

Timber framed house, 25 Church Square “is alsoshown on the 1581 map. In the 18th century it was ahostelry called the Red Lion and was afterwards con-verted into a baker’s shop. It later became the prem-ises of a cabinet maker and is now a private house” -A stroll through old Toddington.

“The first Post Office was located in the High Streetin 1846… prior to that letters were delivered byhorseback from Dunstable. The Post Office was relo-cated to its present building, a former bakery, aboutthe turn of the century” - A stroll through old Todding-ton